“I’ve dealt with worse.” She squinted in the sunlight. “He’s an asshole about it, but normally I do spend more time working with the departments and getting people on board. I’m usually better at communication. We just don’t have the time on this shoot. Every movie is making art on a deadline, but this is the most under the gun I’ve ever felt.”

“You’re doing a better job than most would,” John said. “You haven’t thrown anything, not even a tantrum.”

Anna huffed. “That’s not really my style.”

“I know. Seriously, you’re doing great.”

Anna knew it was said casually, but hearing it still felt good. She’d been fighting her own battles for a long time, and having Jenny and John on this shoot made for a new kind of atmosphere. It made weathering the storm of working with someone like Cole easier to bear.

“I think I have a solution for the blood,” Anna said, “but I need a minute.”

John followed Anna to the storage unit. “Is Reed where I think he is?”

“If you think he’s running around with Jenny, then yes.”

“It’s sort of sweet. You have to give them that.”

Anna frowned.

“Or not,” John said, clearly wondering at Anna’s attitude.

“It didn’t work out before, and I don’t want Jenny to get hurt again.”

“That’s not really under your control,” John said.

Anna knocked on the door, John’s words swirling in her mind. Anna was glad her friend was happy, but she wasn’t ready to call anything involving Reed “sweet.”

Reed opened the door. “How may I help you?” His posh tone was at odds with the way his hair stood up on end.

“Can you please make your way to set, as we’re already a day behind?”

“Technically, he wasn’t late yet.” Jenny peeked her head out from behind Reed. Her hair was in a similar state of disarray. Jenny looked highly irritated at her best friend.

Anna held up her hand. “It’s none of my business.”

“Good answer,” Jenny said, straightening her skirt over her knees.

“Unless it affects your ability to do your job.” Anna stared pointedly at Reed.

“He could do this job in his sleep.” Jenny ran her hands through her hair, trying to flatten it. “I wrote it for him.”

“What?” Anna asked, not bothering to hide her shock.

“I’m pretty good at the villainous quips, so I sort of imagined him in the role when I wrote it.” She straightened her shoulders and took a deep breath. “When the producers envisioned him for the part, I let them assume it was their idea.”

“Darling,” Reed said with a beatific look on his face.

Anna raised her eyes to the sky. They were never going to get this movie made.